Apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy

ABSTRACT

Open jaws are subjected to a closing force below a hinge line so that jaws will close and grip an elongated object when one end of the object is placed on hinge causing it to move below the closing force.

United States Patent Benson et al.

[4 1 Nov. 11,1075

APPARATUS FOR TRAPPING AN APPENDAGE ON A FIGURE TOY Inventors: John Terry Benson, Encino; Peter Charles White, Rancho Palos Verdes, both of Calif.

Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Ca1if Filed: Dec. 12, 1974 Appl. No.: 531,945

US. Cl 46/1 R; 43/88; 46/119; 273/102 R Int. C1. A63H 33/00 Field of Search 46/1 R, 91, 92, 119, 36, 46/37; 272/8 N, 27 R, 27 N; 273/102 R, 106 R; 43/88, 63

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1930 Taylor 43/63 1,881,530 10/1932 Hancock 43/63 2,662,334 12/1953 Fishlove 46/1 R 3,120,958 2/1964 Glass et a1 273/106 R X 3,610,615 10/1971 Clearly 272/8 N 3,707,289 12/1972 Wicks 273/1 R Primary E.\'aminerRobert Peshock Assistant E.\'aminerJ. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or FirmMaX E. Shirk 7] ABSTRACT Open jaws are subjected to a closing force below a hinge line so that jaws will close and grip an elongated object when one end of the object is placed on hinge causing it to move below the closing force.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 3,918,195

BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION T V The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts. I. I Field of the Invention v j The present invention pertains generally to the field of traps and more particularly to an apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy. Description of the Prior Art g The prior art in the Patent Office was searched for references relevant to a simulated clam shell tobe used in combination with a toy simulating a deep-sea diver and wherein the normally open clam shell includes rubber band operated means for closing the shell halves when the diver steps on the open clams.

The following field of search was-selected as representing the most pertinent classes and subclasses on this subject:

Subclasses I The search did not reveal any pertinent references.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simulated clam for trapping an appendage on a figure toy.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and useful simulated clam shell to be used in combination with a toy simulating a deep-sea diver wherein a normally open clam shell includes rubber-band-operated means for closing the shell halves when the diver steps on the open clam.

According to the present invention, an apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy comprises a pair of jaws, hinge means swingably connecting the jaws together, biasing means connected to the jaws for exerting a closing force on the jaws below the hinge means, whereby the jaws will be held open by the biasing means until the appendage exerts a downward force on the hinge means for moving the hingemeans below the biasing means, whereupon the biasing means pulls the jaws into gripping engagement with the appendage.

The jaws may comprise simulated giant clam shell halves and the device may include trigger means connected to the biasing means for releasing the biasing means when the trigger means is actuated, so that the jaws will release the appendage.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

2 I BRIEF DESCRIPTION or Tl-IE- DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simulated clam shell constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the nv o FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing the simulated clam shell 0f FIG. 1 in open position with an appendage of a figure toy in position therein;

FIG. 3 is a reduced view similar to FIG. 2 showing the shell halves in closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a trigger used in the clam shell of FIGS. 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawing, an apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy, generally designated 10,is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a simulated clam shell having a pair of jaws 12, 14 swingably connected together by a hinge means 16 and biasedto the open position shown in FIG. 2 by a suitable biasing means, shown herein for purposes of illustration, out not of limitation, as comprising a rubber band 18. v

Jaws 12, 14 and hinge means 16 may beintegrally formed from plastic material during a molding operation in a mold including means for forming a hook 20 and a bridge 22 on jaw 12 and an opening 24 and a bridge 26 on jaw 14.

A trigger assembly 28 is supported by bridge 26 in jaw 14 and includes a hook 30 which may be inserted through opening 24 and hooked onto outer wall 32 of jaw 14. Rubber band 18 includes a first end 34 which may be connected to hook 20 and a second end 36 which may be connected to hook 30 on trigger 28. It should be noted that rubber band 18 extends below hinge means 16 for exerting a biasing force to maintain jaws l2, 14 in the open position shown in FIG. 2. However, when an appendage 38 of a figure toy (not shown) is placed on hinge means 16 and pressed downwardly, hinge means 16 will be moved to a position below rubber band 18 so that rubber band 18 exerts a closing force on jaws l2, 14 moving them in the direction of arrows 40, 42, respectively, into clamping engagement with appendage 38, as shown in FIG. 3.

Jaws 12, 14 may then be released by actuating trigger 28 to disengage hook 30 from wall 32. Rubber band 18 is maintained in proper position on trigger 28 by a vertical, arcuate rib 44 extending upwardly from the base 46 of trigger 28. End 36 of rubber band 18 may be inserted through an aperture 48 provided in hook 30.

In use, a child-user may pretend that simulated clam shell 10 is a giant clam in the ocean and that appendage 38 belongs to a deep-sea diver (not shown).

The child-user may open jaws 12, 14 to the position shown in FIG. 2 and latch trigger 28 so that rubber band 18 will maintain jaws 12, 14 in their FIG. 2 positions. The child-user may then place appendage 38 on hinge means 16 and force it downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3 where rubber band 18 exerts a closing force above hinge means 16 causing jaws 12, 14 to engage appendage 38 trapping it in clam shell 10. Appendage 38 may then be released by disengaging hook 30.

While the particular apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently 3 preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims which form a part of this disclosure.

Whenever the term means is employed in these claims, this term is to be interpreted as defining the corresponding structure illustrated and described in this specification or the equivalent of the same.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy, comprising: a pair of jaws; hinge means swingably connecting said jaws together; biasing means for exerting an opening force on said jaws below said hinge means when said jaws are swung to fully open positions and for exerting a closing force on said jaws when said hinge means is moved below said biasing means; and fastening means connecting said biasing means to said jaws in such a manner that said biasing means lies below said hinge means when said jaws are open and above said hinge means when said jaws are closed, whereby said jaws will be held open by said biasing means until said appendage exerts a downward force on said hinge means for moving said hinge means below said biasing means, whereupon said biasing means will pull said jaws into gripping engagement with said appendage.

2. An apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said jaws simulate a giant clam shell.

3. An apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy as stated in claim 1 including trigger means connected to said biasing means for releasing said biasing means when said trigger means is actuated, whereby said jaws will release said appendage.

4. A simulated giant clam shell for trapping an appendage on a figure toy, comprising:

a pair of simulated clam shell halves forming jaws;

a hinge formed integrally with said jaws and swingably connecting said jaws together;

a hook affixed to each of said jaws at locations which are below said hinge when said jaws are open and above said hinge when said jaws are closed; and

a rubber band having its ends connected to said hooks for exerting an opening force on said jaws below said hinge when said jaws are in an open position and exerting a closing force on said jaws when said hinge is moved below said rubber band.

5. A simulated giant clam shell as stated in claim 4 wherein one of said hooks is releasably affixed to its jaw for releasing said rubber band when said releasable hook is released, whereby said rubber band will release UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE QERTIFIQATE 0F CQRRECTION PATENTNO.: 18,195 DATED November 11, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) John Terry Benson, Peter Charles White It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the title page below the patent number 3,918,195 the date of the patent "November ll, 1075" should read -November 11, l975-.

Signed and Scaled this Fifteenth Day of October 1985 [SEAL] Arrest:

DONALD J. QUIGG Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents and T rademurks-Desigut 

1. Apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy, comprising: a pair of jaws; hinge means swingably connecting said jaws together; biasing means for exerting an opening force on said jaws below said hinge means when said jaws are swung to fully open positions and for exerting a closing force on said jaws when said hinge means is moved below said biasing means; and fastening means connecting said biasing means to said jaws in such a manner that said biasing means lies below said hinge means wHen said jaws are open and above said hinge means when said jaws are closed, whereby said jaws will be held open by said biasing means until said appendage exerts a downward force on said hinge means for moving said hinge means below said biasing means, whereupon said biasing means will pull said jaws into gripping engagement with said appendage.
 2. An apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said jaws simulate a giant clam shell.
 3. An apparatus for trapping an appendage on a figure toy as stated in claim 1 including trigger means connected to said biasing means for releasing said biasing means when said trigger means is actuated, whereby said jaws will release said appendage.
 4. A simulated giant clam shell for trapping an appendage on a figure toy, comprising: a pair of simulated clam shell halves forming jaws; a hinge formed integrally with said jaws and swingably connecting said jaws together; a hook affixed to each of said jaws at locations which are below said hinge when said jaws are open and above said hinge when said jaws are closed; and a rubber band having its ends connected to said hooks for exerting an opening force on said jaws below said hinge when said jaws are in an open position and exerting a closing force on said jaws when said hinge is moved below said rubber band.
 5. A simulated giant clam shell as stated in claim 4 wherein one of said hooks is releasably affixed to its jaw for releasing said rubber band when said releasable hook is released, whereby said rubber band will release its biasing force. 